UNEP Discusses Solutions to Combat Microplastic Pollution

In the first half of the first day, delegates in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) discussed the topic of plastic pollution. With several countries explaining the problem of plastic pollution in their countries, they have also proposed several solutions to tackling the plastic pollution problem.

The two main issues discussed during the first half were the impact of plastic pollution on humans and marine life.

At Jeddah’s Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia, microplastics have been identified in sediments of the sea. Russia, the largest country in terms of land, has been heating up two and a half times faster than other countries. Due to plastic pollution, marine life has been affected. The country held a campaign in 2017, where hundreds of volunteers collected 2000 kilograms of plastic waste, and encouraged more plastic waste collections to be held.

Egypt believes that plastic pollution poses a great threat to its citizens and their economy. Microplastics accumulate in the cells and tissues of the marine life that people eat, which affects Egypt as it is big in maritime trade. People would be reluctant to buy seafood, which in turn, affects the maritime trade sector. This would then “bring down the economy”.

Uzbekistan, similar to Egypt, highlighted that a vast majority of plastic waste in the ocean is made up of microplastics. “Microplastics produce toxins and poison which are released into the ocean, causing harm to marine life and the humans who consume marine life.” Therefore, they proposed “the creation of school and nation campaigns to increase the awareness of microplastics pollution”. Likewise, Vietnam also endorsed “educating students to raise awareness on its negative impact on the environment, humans and animals.”

This was similar to Sri Lanka’s proposal. Sri Lanka suggested that the government should educate its citizens on the impact of plastic pollution and individual movements they can carry out, citing that Sri Lanka is a “poor and undeveloped country”. This can be achieved by utilising the 3Rs method of Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling to reduce the plastic waste in Sri Lanka and take one step closer towards becoming a “cleaner country”.

Australia agreed with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan that microplastics were one of the core problems of plastic pollution in the ocean. Believing that “high income countries should help countries with lower income to address the issue of plastic pollution” through the provision of “technological and financial help.”

Germany agreed with Australia, highlighting that developed countries export their waste to developing countries and called upon them to cease their actions. “It is [the developed countries] responsibility to take care of [their] own waste.”

Discussion of the various solutions to combat plastic pollution will continue on in the second half of the first day’s conference.